Stars with masses greater than 10 M suns will likely form Black Holes when
they go Supernova. This is NOT entirely accepted, as indisputable
evidence in favor of Black Holes is difficult to find.
However, NEUTRON DEGENERACY, which
holds up a Neutron Star, will fail for collapsed cores greater
than several Msuns. What are THESE objects going to look like?
More importantly: Does it matter?
First, we must learn the definition of:
Escape Velocity
1.) The kinetic (speed) energy of an object of mass, m, with velocity, V is:
1/2 m V2
2.) The orbital energy of an object, m, orbiting a larger object, M, is given by
(R is radius, G is the Gravitational Constant):
(GMm)/R
3.) In order for object, m, not to fall into object, M, it must have
kinetic energy equal or greater than this orbital energy. Solving for velocity
gives:
V = (2GM/R)1/2
This is the ESCAPE VELOCITY
of an object with mass m, to escape from object, M.
Examples of escape velocities:
- The escape speed from the Moon's surface: 2 km / second
- The escape speed from the Earth's surface: 11.2 km / second
- The escape speed from the Sun's surface: 620 km / second
- The escape speed from the surface of a neutron star: 0.4 c (speed of light)